Patent GB-191126870-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Devices for Printing Stamps of Different Values on Postal Packages.
Inventor: LERCHE JULIUS
Filed: 1911-11-30
Granted: 1913-02-28
Abstract: 26,870. Lerche, J. Nov. 30. P o s t m a r k i n g - machines ; tripping arrangements; counting- apparatus.-An apparatus for franking letters, &c., is so constructed that prints may be obtained in distinctive colours from either of four printing - surfaces, or from adjacent pairs of these surfaces. Each printing-surface is automatically put out of action independently of the others when a given number of impressions have been taken from it, and a record is taken of the actuations of each printing-device. The apparatus may be adjusted so as to adjust the position of the stamps laterally and longitudinally of the letters. In one form of apparatus, Fig. 1, the letters are fed into a slot 7 in the casing by feed-rollers 131, 132, Fig. 6, to which they are fed by rollers 117, 116, Fig. 3, driven in opposite directions, the longitudinal adjustment referred to above being obtained by means of a roughened surface 118 secured to the roll 116, which owing to its great friction advances the letters against the action of the roller 117, which tends to keep it back. The roller 116 is adjustably secured to its driving-spindle. The letter is printed on by one or two of the rollers 1, 2, 3, 4, the roller in operative position being determined by displacing the rollers axially of the main spindle 5 so as to cause one or an adjacent pair of rollers to engage a key 9 on the shaft 5. The displacement is effected by a rotating nut 15, which is normally prevented by a ring 16 from moving axially and which actuates a screwed extension 10 of a casing 8 in which the printing-rollers 1, 2, 3, 4 and inking- rollers 30, 34, Fig. 6, are mounted. Apertures in the nut 15 co-operate with a coloured indicator 50 on the extension 10 to enable the required stamps to be brought into operative position. The apertures corresponding to the position in which two stamps are to be printed are arranged diametrically opposite those for single stamps. A gear-wheel 13 splined to the shaft 5 moves with the casing 8 and engages gear-wheels 20 19, 18, 17 connected to separate counting-mechanism adapted to register the number of stamps of the different values issued, and each device is automatically locked by a pawl when a given number of prints have been taken. To prevent accidental movements of the counting-wheels, the shaft of each counting-wheel is prevented from rotating by an extension 28 of the casing 8 engaging a vertical groove in a cylinder 27 on the shaft. Circular grooves are provided in this cylinder to allow the counter to be rotated when the corresponding printing-roller is in operative position. A grooved rule 29 attached to the casing 8 prevents all but the printing wheel or wheels in operative position from revolving. To adjust the position of the stamps laterally on the letters, the whole set of wheels and their associated parts may be moved longitudinally relatively to the slot 7 by rotating a screw 43 in which the ring 16 is engaged. This moves the casing 8, and the wheels 20, 19, 18, 17 are moved in unison by the aid of a member 45 which moves with the screw 43 and collars 48 on the shafts of the wheels 20 &c. A frame 91 in which two impression rollers 88, 89 are mounted is similarly moved by means of gearwheels 47, 97 which actuate a screw 98 communicating motion to a bell-shaped body 100 and a spindle 94 connected by collars 95, 96 to the casing 91. The bell-shaped body 100 is driven by gearing from the nut 15 and communicates an up-and-down motion to the frame 91 so as to bring one or two impression rollers into printing position according to the number of stamping-rollers from which printing is to take place. Before the adjustment of the stamping - rollers occurs, a lever 75 must bo moved to free the shaft 94, which is geared to the screw 15, from a locking projection 114 engaging notches in a disk 115 on the shaft 94, and this movement of the lever 75 causes a projection 84 to engage a notched disk 82 on the main spindle 5, this engagement taking place only when the stamping-rollers are in a definite position. After the stamping-rollers have been adjusted, the lever 75 returns to normal position under spring action, and the impression roller 88 always returns to printing position, but the roller 89 is held by a stop on the disk 115 if only one impression is to be taken. In a modification, the impression rollers are mounted so as to move vertically with the stamping- rollers, and are resiliently pressed towards the printing-rollers and are controlled by a fixed rule 54, Fig. 7, provided with a recessed portion 54<1> which permits one or two of the impression rollers 55, 56, 57, 58 to come into printing position as required. In a further modification, a rule similar to 54 and capable of movement with the rule 29 is provided with three small slots which can permit one or two impression rollers to be in printing position The impression rollers in this case are moved out of printing position by a lever 75 while the rollers 1, 2, 3, 4 are adjusted and one or two of the impression rollers come into printing position according to whether one or two stamps are to be obtained. In a further modification, an impression roller, formed of a central part and two outer eccentrically - mounted parts which can be brought into position for printing two impressions, is mounted in a slide which can be moved by hand and secured by a screw in the desired position, a scale being used to assist the adjustment. In a further modification, the lever 75 may be arranged to lock a door controlling access to the impression, feed, and inking rollers, and this door can only be opened when the stamping-spindle 5 is locked.